How I Turned a Paper Mâché Pumpkin Fail Into a SPOOKY Cardboard Jack-o’-Lantern!

Watch the build video HERE!

So, this week's tutorial didn’t exactly go as planned, but what can I say—sometimes in art, like in life, things just don’t work out. And that's perfectly fine because it led me to a fun creative pivot that I think you’ll love. 

This project started out with a pre-made paper mache pumpkin.  ​Check out this article or this video to see how it was done. The problem came when I started carving the face. My paper mâché pumpkin was way too thin and floppy. 

Originally, I’d been thinking of building a face on top of the pumpkin, not carving directly into it. But when I changed my mind, I forgot to reinforce the structure with extra layers of paper mâché.

So, as I cut through the pumpkin's face, I quickly realized the walls were so soft and squishy that I had to support the pumpkin with my fingers inside to avoid crushing it. Yikes. At that point, I knew I was in trouble and I had to change plans.

---

Some Inspiration

I follow a few artists who do some really cool work with corrugated cardboard. I love how they embrace the texture and character of the material. Drawing inspiration from them, I thought I might use use cardboard to reinforce the squishy pumpkin and turn it into something completely different—maybe even cooler?

I had never worked with cardboard in this way before, but hey, that’s part of the fun of art, right? It’s all about experimentation and seeing where it takes you. So, I decided to give it a shot.

---

Step 1: Carve The Pumpkin
We're starting with pre-made paper mache pumpkin. If you want to see how I made this paper mache pumpkin with a paper bag,  check out this article or this video tutorial.

• Use a marker to outline your cuts. You can check out this Pinterest Board for some nice Jack o' Lantern reference images.
• Cut through the papier mâché with a serrated knife or craft knife.
• Peel away any masking tape inside and remove the stuffing. Save the paper for future projects!

---

Step 2: Cut Cardboard Strips

• Select some un-coated corrugated cardboard for your project. You could use a shipping box, but the cardboard I found was a bit thinner - closer to that used for shoe boxes.
• Pay attention to the grain direction of the corrugations to control how the cardboard bends.
• Cut strips of cardboard in a variety of lengths.

---

Step 3:  Prep the Cardboard

• Break the grain of your carboard strips by running them over your finger or, if that hurts, the back of a spoon.

​

---

Step 4: Start with The Stem

• Start with the pumpkin stem. Hot glue longer cardboard strips around it, bending and layering to follow the shape.
• Use smaller pieces of cardboard to fill in the gaps after the larger areas are covered.

---

Step 5: Cover the Pumpkin Body

• Wrap long strips of cardboard around the pumpkin body, tucking one end inside the top of the pumpkin and wrapping it around to the base.
• Trim to fit and secure with hot glue. Work around the pumpkin, covering gaps with smaller pieces.

---

Step 6: Work Around the Facial Openings

• For facial features like eyes, nose, and mouth, carefully fold and glue smaller cardboard strips to follow the holes.

---

Step 7: Finishing

• I really loved the look of the un-painted cardboard, but I tested out a few other colour options on some small tiles I made for the purpose. 
• Ultimately I decided on a combination of an orange acrylic wash and chalk pastel which both gave depth and avoided excess moisture (to prevent delamination of the layers of cardboard.) 

---

Step 8: Add Light and Display

• Light-up your cardboard jack o'lantern with a battery-operated flameless candle or some LED fairy lights.
• Enjoy!
  

---

And that's how I redeemed a failed paper mache pumpkin with cardboard! It just goes to show, sometimes, in art, mistakes can inspire creativity! I'm very proud of how this turned out. I'd be thrilled if you'd check out the tutorial video below or find lots of other budget-friendly art projects on my YouTube Channel.
​What do you think about this technique? If you give it a try, or if you have ideas for other projects that I could cover in cardboard, it would make my day if you’d share it with me. I’m @JaneSawyerMakes on TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, Reddit, Threads,  and Twitter (X). Please share and pin this article!